Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Strengthening health and resilience of local food systems in times of multi-layered crises – presentation and discussion of project results

¹Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), Division 123 - General and Fundamental Research Issues, Coordination of Research, Germany
²Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), Division 624 - Right to Food, Germany

Abstract

The PhD programme of the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) provides an opportunity for young scientists from countries of the Global South to carry out research work in German departmental research institutions and at the BMLEH-affiliated Leibniz Institutes. The PhD programme aims to strengthen young scientists and to build long-term research partnerships and networks. A special feature of the programme is its combination of scientific work and policy advice.
Three ongoing projects of the PhD programme will present their initial results and show their contribution to larger projects. They all deal with effects of different crises and suitable adaptation strategies to improve local nutrition and strengthen resilience in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequences of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine are at focus. The various approaches of the selected projects for the investigation and development of suitable strategies show the different facets of complex crises. This provides a good basis for a subsequent exchange on system-oriented solutions during the session.

Following research consortia will present:

1. Dr. Mawussi Kossivi Soviadan and Prof. Dr. Osama Naser El-Din Ahmed
   Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)
   Project: “The current impact of COVID-19 and Russian war on Ukraine on global agricultural commodities trade and food security in sub-Saharan Africa“


2. Dr. John Mulwa Ndisya
   Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)
   Project: “Renewable energy for food security: Optimisation and upscaling of a modular solar dryer for postharvest processing of vegetables in Kenya“


3. Prisca-Elifuraha Kimaro
   Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
   Project: “Contribution of orphan crops in building resilient cropping systems in the era of climate change in Tanzania: The case study of millet“

Keywords: Adaptation strategies, climate change, food price volatility, food processing technologies, food systems, nutrition for health, orphan crops, resilience, sub-Sahara Africa

Contact Address: Jana Schaffrath, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), Division 334 - Climate, Global Food Security, International Cooperation, Bonn, Germany, e-mail: foodsecurityble.de